4 Things to Do Until You See Your Stylist

Although dim, there seems to be a tiny light at the end of the tunnel as we adjust to our new normal. While some communities are loosening their social distance guidelines, others are hanging on tight until further notice. Which means, your go-to hair stylist may or may not be opening her (or his) chair very soon. With limited availability and a heap of new restrictions and safety precautions, this also means we can’t all run and dunk our heads in the shampoo bowl at once.

If you’re feeling antsy or altogether ready to get off the DIY bus to Struggle Lane, try your best to hold on a little while longer. It takes years to maintain a healthy, flourishing head of hair whether by you or your stylist and you certainly do not want to ruin it with a few minutes of trial-and-error or worse, boredom. 

Whether you’re dying to try something new with your hair or wanting to know the basics of maintaining it until your next appointment, we’ve got some tips that will help you keep your hair intact. So until your next hydration treatment, color touch-up and trim, here’s 4 things you can do while you wait...

Temporary Hair Color

It's not uncommon to get bored with your hair, especially if you're not able to keep up with your regular color routine. Temporary hair colors like hair paint and color rinses are safe ways of coloring your hair while skipping the damage. Hair paint comes in vibrant colors like hot pink, purple and teal and can be washed out with one wash. Hair color rinses or demi-permanent hair color are a great option if you want to add vibrancy to your hair or to cover grays. Demi-permanent color gradually fades each time you wash your hair and typically lasts about 24 washes. 

Deep Condition Each Wash Day

It can be easy to want to rush through your wash day routine. Even if you're short on time and juggling a million things between working from home, teaching from home, learning from home, etc -- make sure you deep condition! You don't need to sit under a hair dryer for hours or let it sit overnight. Simply applying your favorite deep conditioner and wrapping your hair with a hot towel or using a deep conditioning cap for 15-20 min is all you need. This will ensure your hair gets the love it needs while you're able to multitask.

Low Manipulation Hair Styles

Sticking with low maintenance styles and minimizing heat will keep you from feeling anxious about potentially damaging your precious tresses. Experiment with a cute twist out or even 2 French braids to keep it simple. You may also want to up your hair accessory game. A vibrant head wrap is the perfect way to add the finishing touches to a simple style. You can even add more length and volume using a set of clip-in hair extensions in your texture. Looking for style inspo? Check out 7 Protective Styles We're Loving Right Now.

Detangle Gently

Detangling your own hair doesn't have to be a chore or a workout. When you're using the right tools, it makes the process easier and prevents your hair from breaking or becoming damaged. A good rule of thumb is to detangle hair that is soaking wet while using a leave-in conditioner with lots of slip and a sturdy detangling brush. Always work from the bottom up and section your hair into as many sections as needed to make it manageable. 

Although it will be quite some time before things get close to the normal we're used to, the best thing we can do is adjust, remain patient and make the most of it however we can. A lot of us are dying to get back to the salon and will appreciate our stylists even more after this. But let's do our part so they're not met with a disaster once we make it to their chair -- we got this!